

The 

Oaten Cakes 



BY 



Rea Woodman, M. A. 

PRICE 15 CENTS. 



ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE 

Franklin, Ohio 



The Oaten CaK<2S. 

An Historical Play for Little Folks 
in Tl^ree SceQes. 



By H. REA WOODMAN, M. A. 

Author of 'The Rescue of Prince Hal," 'The Clever 

Doctor," "His Uncle John," and ''Billy Ben's 

Pirate Play." 



COPYRIGHT 1912 BY REA WOODMflN. 



Eldirldge Entertainment House 

FRANKUN, -:- OHIO. 






DEDICATION— To Frederic Evans Delzell, a Texas 
boy, this little story of the noble Saxon King— the 
kingliest King I know about— with my abiding love. 



C(.D 31170 



THE CHARACTERS OF THE PLAY. 
Alfred, King of England, called "The Great.'' 
His Chief Counsellor. 
The First Courtier. 

Captain Boldheart, Leader of the Danish Forces. 
First Robber. 
Second Robber. 
The Cottager. 
The Cottager's Wife. 

Messengers, Soldiers and Courtiers. 



Scene L In the Palace. 

Scene IL In the Wood, the Next Day. 

Scene III. In the Cottage, One Week Later. 



The Oaten Cakes. 



SCENE L 

In the Palace. 

{The Throne Room. King Alfred, simply 
dressed, hut zvearing a gold crozvn, is seated on 
a rude throne. His attitude is that of one ab- 
sorbed in anxious thought. The First Courtier 
and three other Courtiers are standing grouped 
in the background, apparently sharers of the 
King's anxiety.) 

{Enter the Chief Counsellor.) 

Chief C. Your Majesty, a Danish soldier has just 
been found hiding in the courtyard. We think he is a 
spy. {The Courtiers listen earnestly. Alfred looks at 
him absently.) What does your Majesty desire to have 
done with him? 

King. What makes you think he is a spy? 

Chief C. Your Majesty, he will not speak a word. 
He pretends to see nothing, but he sees everything. He 
is not armed, and he does not look like a common soldier. 
{Alfred does not anszver, or move.) What does your 
Majesty desire to have done with him? 

King, {rousing himself). What have you done with 
him? 

Chief C. We have put him in the dungeon. 

King. There is no need of that. Take him out, give 
him some food, and put him under guard. 

Chief C. Your Majesty, the man is a spy. 

King, {beckoning a Courtier to his side). Go tell 
the Captain to take that man out of the dungeon, give 
him food and drink, and put him under a strong guard. 

Courtier. Yes, your Majesty. {He goes.) 

Chief C. Your Majesty, the man is a Dane. {The 



King nods.) And a spy A Dane and a spy. What 

can you expect? 

King, (passing his hand across his troubled brozv). 
Do not be uneasy. We will keep him well guarded. 

Chief C. (spreading his hands ontzvard). He is a 
Dane. Your Majesty knows too well what the Danes 
are. (Alfred does not ansiver.) The Danes have broken 
every promise they ever made your Majesty. 

King, (resting his head on his hand). That is quite 
true. 

Chief C. Then why should you trust them this time? 

King. What can I do ? I can not have them arrested. 
There are not jails enough in England to hold them. I 
can not give them battle now ; my soldiers are scattered, 
my people are very poor. The Danes have promised 
that they will leave the country. What can I do but trust 
them? I can not get an army together in five minutes 
to drive them out. (The Courtiers nod agreement.) 

Chief C. (zmth lifted brozv). Can King Alfred trust 
the Danes? 

King, (looking at him helplessly). I shall have to — 
for a little while, until I can get my soldiers together. 

Chief C. (leaning on his staff). Your Majesty, you 
were a young man of three-and-twenty when you came 
to the throne, were you not? 

King, (adjusting his crozvn). I was, my Counsellor. 

Chief C. In the first year of your reign you fought 
nine battles with the Danes, did you not? 

King, (zvagging his head) . I did — nine hard battles. 

Chief C. You conquered them and made treaties with 
them, did you not? 

King. I did. You know all this perfectly well. 

(The Courtiers yazvn, and rest, zvearily, on one foot.) 

Chief C. You have been King of England four years. 
In that time have the Danes kept one single promise they 
have made your Majesty? Answer me that. 

King. I can't say that they have. But this is neither 

5 



here nor there. What is the use of all this history? {The 
Courtiers shrug and smile.) 

Chief C. {unmoved). They swore they would leave 
the country ; they did not. They swore they would keep 
the treaties ; they did not. They swore they would keep 
the peace and obey the laws. They did not do so. They 
stayed here, and plundered and robbed and killed women 
and little children. They burned villages and stole cat- 
tle. That was four years ago. Have the Danes changed ? 
If they lied then, will they not lie now? What reason 
has your Majesty to believe that they will keep a prom- 
ise now if they did n't then? 

King. What do you advise me to do? 

Chief C. {drawing himself up, and bringing dozvn 
his staff with a thump). Fight! Call your soldiers to- 
gether and fight ! Drive the Danes back across the sea ! 
Fight, your Majesty, — fight till there is not a Danish 
soldier left on English ground. 

First C. {stepping forward). How can he fight 
without any soldiers? It is easy to talk! {The King 
ga:ses sadly from one to the other.) How can he pay 
soldiers without money? Why don't you talk facts? 

{Enter a Messenger.) 

King, {so eagerly that his erozvn falls off). What 
news? What news? Who sent you here? 

Mess, {choking for breath). Oh- King, the Danes — 
the Danes — 

King, {putting his crozim back on). Get the man a 
cup of water. {A Courtier goes out.) Hand him a 
chair. {The Messenger is seated, and handed a cup of 
water that the Courtier brings.) Is he able to speak 
now ? Is he able to speak now ? 

Courtier. The man has recovered, your Majesty. 

Mess, {rising to address the King). Your Majesty, 
the Danes are burning the villages, and threatening to 
kill all the people. They have set a price on your head, 
and Captain Boldheart is seeking you. {There is a com- 
motion among the Courtiers.) Your Majesty, your life 

6 



is in danger while you remain here. {He throzvs him- 
self at Alfred's feet.) Dear King, for the sake of your 
people, leave .the Palace ! Captain Boldheart swears that 
he will carry your head to the Danish king. The people 
cry out, ''What will we do if our good King Alfred is 
killed?" Oh King, hear me! Hear me! Leave the 
Palace this very day ! 

King, (stooping to raise the Messenger). We will 
consult what is best to be done. You must have food 
and rest, (to a Courtier). Take care of this poor fel- 
low. He is exhausted. (The Messenger kisses the 
King's hand, and retires zvith the Courtier.) 

Chief C. (grimly). Do you still trust the Danes, 
your Majesty? 

First C. (to Chief Counsellor). This is no time for 
sarcasm. Let us think only of the King's safety. (To 
Alfred.) You must disguise yourself and leave the 
palace. 

King. I will never desert my people. 

first C. But consider, your Majesty! There is a 
price upon your head. 

King. A King can not run away and hide like a 
beggar ! 

(Enter a Soldier, excitedly.) 

Soldier, (to Counsellor). I must speak to the King! 

King. Well, soldier, what is it ? Where did you come 
from ? 

Soldier, (breathing hard). I have been hiding in the 
swamp for three days. 

King. Alone ? 

Soldier. Your soldiers are scattered far and wide. 
Many of them are dying of hunger. The Danes are 
hunting us like dogs, and every man they find, they kill. 
(stops to breathe). You must leave the palace. This 
is no place for you. The Danes are coming. 

King. But where shall I go? 

Soldier. Go to some peasant's hut and stay there till 

7 



the Palace is out of danger. In a few days, we — we 
(He szuays a little.) we will drive — we 

King. The man is weak from hunger. .(He beckons 
a Courtier.) Take him to the courtyard, and let him rest. 
Then give him food. — You are an honest soldier. 

Soldier, {zceakly, to the Chief Counsellor). Tell him 
to go — tell him to go! (He is led out by the Courtier.) 

Chief C. You see how it is, your ]\Iajesty. We must 
drive the Danes out of the country, and how can we do 
that if we have no King? You must seek shelter until 
we can collect our soldiers and prepare for war. 

King, (rising). I will do so. (To the First Cour- 
tier) . Go at once and prepare me a peasant's dress and 
stafif. I will leave the Palace immediately. 

First C. Your Majesty will not go alone? 

King. I will go alone. You are all needed here. 

First C. (kneeling). My King! (He kisses the 
King's hand, rises, and goes in haste.) 

King, (stepping dozen from the throne). I will go 
bid farewell to the Queen, {to the Chief Counsellor). I 
entrust the affairs of the kingdom to you. 

Chief C. (kneeling) . I will do the best I can to pre- 
serve and protect the kingdom. 

King. I know that, my faithful Counsellor. Until 
we meet again, farewell. {He goes out sadly, attended 
by the remaining Courtier.) 

Chief C. (alone). A price upon the King's head! 
(He thinks hard, looking absently at the vacant throne.) 
The country is full of outlaws and robbers. They must 
not harm the King. (He thinks harder.) They must 
not harm the King. I know what I will do. I will 
cause it to be known to the robbers that the King is 
disguised and travelling through the woods. There is 
not a robber in the land that would harm a hair of his 
head. I will send messengers out in every direction. 
God save the King from harm! (He goes.) 

CURTAIN. 

8 



SCENE 11. 

In the Wood, the Next Day. 

{71ie Wood; a vacant space, hung with green 
hai:::e or lining. Enter Captain Boldheart, zmth 
eight or ten soldiers, armed zvith (paste-board) 
battle-axes and pikes.) 

Bold. Halt, my brave men! (The soldiers stand in 
two lines, facing the Captain.) Listen, and I will tell 
yon why we are in this lonely wood, separated from the 
rest of the army. King Alfred has left his Palace in 
disguise, and is traveling through the wood. He is 
dressed as a peasant, and carries a wooden staff. I will 
divide the prize money with that brave soldier who brings 
the King before me alive or dead. Part of you will 
search the wood in that direction (pointing), and the 
other part, in that direction. Remember that Captain 
Boldheart never forgets the man who is faithful. The 
division that finds the King will blow the horn three 
times, and return to this place. First division, atten- 
tion! Right about, face! March! (The first line Hies 
out.) Second division, attention. Right about face! 
March! (The second line files out, zvith Boldheart at 
the head.) 

(Enter King Alfred, disguised as a peasant, zmth 
a staff.) 

King. It is very lonely in this wood, (listens). How 
distinct every sound is ! It seems to me that I have heard 
every leaf that has fallen in the forest this afternoon. I 
wonder where I am? That (pointing) ought to be the 
north, but I do not know. Oh my poor people, what a 
plight your King is in ! His soldiers hiding in fens and 
bogs, his enemies seeking his life, himself wandering in 
an unknown forest, lost and alone! (He goes out, cau- 
tiously.) 

(Enter a Soldier, cautiously.) 

Soldier. There is a price on the King's head. If I 
can catch him and get that money {listens, turning quite 

9 



around) I'll go back to Denmark. I am tired of war. 
I (listens) want to see my wife and little children. 
There's somebody coming. (He lifts his hattle-axe.) 

(Enter tzvo Robbers, dressed in green, zvith bows, 
arrows, and arrozv-quivers.) 

First Rob. Stand still! (He lifts his bozv.) 

Soldier. I have no money. I am only a poor soldier. 

First Rob. (to Second Robber). See if he has. (T/j^ 
Second Robber searches the Soldier.) 

Sec. Rob. He has n't even a handkerchief! 

Soldier. I aJii hunting the Saxon King. When I find 
him I'll have money enough. 

First Rob. (scornfully) . Do you think the King will 
give you any money? He will order your head cut off? 

Soldier, (zvith a szvagger). Before he cuts my head 
off I'll sell his to Captain Boldheart. You'll see what 
will happen to your fine Saxon King! (He starts out, 
grinning meanly.) 

First Rob. Hold! (The Soldier stops.) Wait. What 
are you talking about, honest soldier? 

Soldier, (zvith a snarl). 'Tlonest soldier" is it when 
you want to know things? You want the money, do 
you? What do you take me for? (He goes out, ugly 
and threatening, his battle-axe raised.) 

First Rob. There must be a price on the King's head. 
Now how much do you suppose it is? 

Sec. Rob. (selecting an arrozv). It's more than we 
have earned in many a day. 

(Enter Ki^ig Alfred, zvanderingly, as if lost.) 

First Rob. (shaking his head to his companion). It's 
only a peasant. Let him rip. 

King. I have lost my way in this dismal forest. (He 
sees the Robbers.) Oh! 

First Rob. He sees us. (He rushes at the King, his 
bow raised.) Your money or your life! 

10 



hands'' ^''^' (^'''^^'''^<§- cit the King). Hold up your 

King {holding lip his hands, his staif falling to the 
ground). There is no use of all this. I am a poor 
peasant. ^ 

Sec Rob. We will see about that, my good man. (He 
searches his clothes.) ^ 

King. I tell you I have no money. I am the King. 
Sec. Rob. (ready to shoot if he moves). You said 
you were a poor peasant. 

King. No, I am the King. 

Sec. Rob. (surveying him). I guess you don't know 
who you are. If you are the King, where is your crown? 

King. I am the King, trying to escape from my ene- 
mies. -^ 

^f^;.^^^'. ^'°^ "^^"^'^ ^^ok much like a King-!— Shall 
we kill him? 

first Rob. (to the King). You should not tell lies 
If there is anything a decent Robber hates, it is a liar! 

King (meekly). May I take down my hands a 
minute ? y «, 

first Rob. (to Second Robber). Shall we let him? 
Sec. Rob. (lifting his bozv higher). Yes, just for a 
minute.— If you try to escape, I will shoot yo'u ! 

King, (shonnng a gold ring, which hangs around his 
neck, suspended by a black ribbon). I am telling the 
truth. I will not try to escape. I am the King— Alfred 
the Saxon. (He slips the ring on his finger.) Dare any- 
body wear this signet but the King? 

(Enter Captain Boldheart, haughtily.) 

Bold. What, ho, my honest men! Have you seen 
the King? (Alfred hides his ring, and noiselessly kicks 
nis start behind him.) 

Sec. Rob. (with a szvaggering front). Hello, Sol- 
dier! How are you? What King? 

11 



Bold. Alfred, King of tlie Saxons. I have sworn to 
kill him before the setting of the sun. 

First Rob. Then you'd better hurry up. 

Bold. Keep a civil tongue in your head. Have you 
seen the King? 

Sec. Rob. I guess the King is in his Palace. 

Bold. No, he is n't; he's in this wood somewhere, 
disguised as a peasant. {He sees Alfred.) Who's this! 

See. Rob. That is a man who has lost his sheep. 

Bold, (after a loiig, hard stare at Alfred). How do 
you come to know so much about him? 

See. Rob. I don't know much about him. i\sk him 
yourself, if you want to know. 

Bold, (to Alfred). So you have lost your sheep? 

King. I think they have been stolen. 

Bold. Oh, you do. {He looks him over again, and 
turns azi'ay.) Then you have not seen the King? 

Sec. Rob. We did n't say we had n't seen the King. 
Is he an old man with a long staff and bare head? 

First Rob. And stooped in the shoulders? 

Bold. How should I know? I never saw the King. 

Sec. Rob. I saw a man that looked just like the King 
go down that way. {He points with his arrozv.) I think 
I know where he went. 

Bold, {suspiciously). Do you know the King? 

Sec. Rob. Of course I know the King. I was not 
always a robber. 

Bold. Was he in disguise? Did he have a staff? 

First Rob. The man I saw did. {The Second Rob- 
ber nods curtly.) 

Bold. My honest man, I will give you gold if you 
Avill take me to the King. 

Sec. Rob. (superbly). I am an Englishman! 

Bold. But even an Englishman likes gold ! (He 
gizTS money.) Lead on, good Robber. 

Sec. Rob. Come on. I will show you where I think 

12 



the King is. (They go out, the Second Robber leading, 
Jiis boz^' held high.) 

First Rob. (kneeling at the King's feet). Oh, King, 
you are safe! (He kisses the King's hand.) 

(Enter the Soldier.) 

Soldier, (^shouting). It is the King! (The First 
Robber springs up.) I'm a made man! (He approaches, 
his battle-axe raised.) 

First Rob. (lifting his bozu). Stand where you are. 
If you move FU shoot you dead. I never missed my 
man yet. 

Soldier, (gloatiiig over his prize). I'll divide with 
you. I'm a made man ! — So you're "The good King 
Alfred !" 

First Rob. If you speak to the King again, I'll shoot 
you through the heart. Drop that battle-axe. (The 
soldier stares at him.) Drop that axe. {He lozvers his 
bozv, and takes deliberate aim.) You drop that axe, or 

you're a dead Dane. One two (The axe 

fails heavily to the ground.) — Your Majesty, I'll trouble 
you for that axe. (Alfred hands it to him.) Now, your 
Majesty, I'll trouble you for the rope that lies behind that 
tree. (Alfred finds a coil of rope, and hands it to the 
First Robber.) 

Soldier. Do not kill me ! I have four little children 
in Denmark. 

First Rob. You coward! — Your Majesty, help me 
bind this man. (With the rope, they bind the Soldier's 
arms fast and tight to his side.) Closed mouths make 
no noise. (He binds his handkerchief around the Sol- 
dier's mouth.) Your Majesty, this man will die poor; 
you mark my words. (He tests the binding carefully.) 
Now, your Majesty, I will take you to a cottage that 
I know of, where a good man lives. (He listens.) 
Hark ! The forest is full of soldiers. Let us hasten. 
One never knows (listening) what may happen in this 
wood. Come, your Majesty. We must not be found 
here. (Jliey go out, the First Robber leading the Sol- 
id 



dier by the rope, as if the latter zvere a dog.) 

(A Soldier crosses the stage, creepingly, as if in pur- 
suit.) 

{Enter a second Soldier, cautiously.) 

Soldier. They say that the King was seen in this 

wood not an hour ago. {He listens. From soinezvhere, 

close, a horn is sounded three times. He jerks off his 

cap joyously.) The King is taken! The King is taken! 

■{He runs out, halloing.) 

CURTAIN. 



SCENE III. 
In the Cottage, One Week Later. 

{The Cottage. A plain room, with a rude fire- 
place at one side. King Alfred is discovered sit- 
ting on a joint stool by the fire, making 
arrozvs.) 

King, {slozvly). Eor three days I have not heard 
from my soldiers. It is dreadful to wait in idleness while 
others are working and fighting. The cottager and his 
wife are good to me, but I am very unhappy. They 
think the King is a very powerful person. What would 
they say if they knew that the poor outcast stranger were 

the King? I wonder if they are thinking of me 

now in the Palace? The King is not always the happiest 
man 

{Enter the Cottager, in rough-looking clothes, and 
heavy shoes.) 

Cottager, {after zvatching the King a fezv seconds). 
Good evening, stranger. 

King, {starting). Oh, is it you? Won't you come 
sit by the fire? 

Cottager. No, I ain't got no time to set down and 

14 



think. That's for rich folks. I ain't had a thinkin' spell 
for more'n a year. 

King, (faking up an arrow). Then when do the 
poor folks do their thinking? 

Cottager, (tzvirling his cap thoughtfully). They 
don't think. They aint got time. I jest come from the 
field, and now I must go and feed my pigs. 

King. How many pigs have you? 

Cottager. I am rich for a poor man. I have three. 

King. Then there are not many poor men that have 
three pigs? 

Cottager, (sighing). Not in these parts, stranger. 

King. Then how do the people live? 

Cottager. Oh, they steal and beg and git along some- 
how. What's the use raising pigs? The soldiers only 
steel them. 

King, (sighing). But the soldiers are hungry. 

Cottager, (shaking his head earnestly). And so are 
the poor people. If the King would stop fighting a while, 
and take care of the country, we would be better off. 

King, (thoughtfully). What would you do if you. 
were King? 

Cottager. I would give every soldier a piece of land 
and a plow, and let him earn his own living. There is 
no good in all this fighting. Well, I must go. The 
nights is gettin' colder. (He lumbers out, sighing 
heavily.) 

King, (looking into the fire). "If the King would 
stop fighting a while, and take care of the country, we 
would be better oft*." Of course war is a hard thing, 
but we can not stop fighting now. He does not under- 
stand. (He looks at his arrozv, then falls to thinking, 
with folded arms.) 

(Enter the Cottager's zvife, briskly, with a pan and a 
toasting-fork.) 

Wife, (going to the fire-place). My honest fellow, 
will you watch these cakes for me a few minutes? 

15 



King, (rousing himself). Yes indeed. What sort 
of cakes are they — sweet cakes? 

Wife, (severely, stirring the fire). No, they are not 
sweet cakes. You can not expect sweet cakes every day. 

King. I do not. I beg your pardon. 

Wife, (putting the cakes on the Hre, one by one). 
These cakes are made of oatmeal, and they are very 
good cakes. So long as the King will keep on fighting 
those dreadful Danes, what can you expect? Be thank- 
ful for oatmeal cakes. 

King. What would you do if you were King? 

Wife, (straightening up, toasting-fork in hand). I 
would send the Danes about their business, and teach 
the poor folks how to read. Now, here, see that these 
cakes do not burn. 

King, (hitching his stool nearer the fire). I will. 

Wife, (handing him the toasting-fork). If they be- 
gin to burn, turn them with this fork. Now, be careful. 
If you let them burn, you will not have any supper, 
that's all. (She bustles out.) 

King, (alone). I think that I must be a poor sort 
of King, after all. These honest folks think I am fight- 
ing for glory, when I am fighting to protect their homes. 
What would become of all the poor little cottages in 
England if I let the Danes have their own way ? I think 
that cake is burning. (He leans over the fire.) Yes, it 
is. (He turns a cake ivith much care.) They smell 
pretty nice. I am always hungry these days. I think 
it must be the fresh air. (He leans on his elbon', zcat ch- 
in g the cakes dreamily, and gradually falls asleep, the 
fork slipping to the floor.) 

(Enter the Cottager's Wife zvith a tin plate.) 

Wife. Has the good man come in yet? (The King 
does not hear.) Has the good man come in yet? (She 
goes tip to the King.) Oh, the lazy fellow is asleep! 
And the cakes are burning! (She shakes him roundly.) 
You are an idle fellow ! For shame ! 

16 



King, (zvaking). I — I — why — 

Wife, (boxing his ears lightly). You have left the 
cakes burn! You will be willing enough to eat them by 
and by, and yet you can not watch them for two minutes ! 
(There is a knocking zcifhont.) Put them on this plate — 
if you can do that much! (She hurries out. The King 
azvkwardly forks the cakes onto the tin plate.) 

(Enter the Robbers, escorting the Chief Counsellor, 
in his dress of state. He carries over his arm a long 
dark cloak.) 

First Rob. (zcaz'ing an arrozv tozcard the stooping 
King). There the King is. 

Chief C. Your Majesty ! 

Khig. (turning). Eh? My Counsellor ! (He drops 
the tin plate, and comes tozvard the Counsellor zvith out- 
stretched hands.) 

Chief C. (stiffly). I am glad to see your Majesty, 
but what are you doing? 

King, (ruefully looking at the scattered cakes). The 
good wife left me to mind the cakes, and I let them 
burn. And now I have dropped them all ! What news 
do you bring? How did you find me? 

Chief C. The Robbers guided me. They have kept 
watch over your Majesty all the time. 

King, (smiling on the Robbers). They are my faith- 
ful friends. I owe my life to them. (The Robbers bozv 
very lozv.) 

Chief C. They will escort us back to the Palace, (to 
the Robbers). Guard the cottage until we come out. 
(The Robbers bozu and retire.) 

Chief C. Your Majesty, there was a great battle 
fought yesterday, and the Danes were driven backward 
toward the sea. Tomorrow we will be ready to fight 
again. (He produces the King's crozvn and unzuraps it.) 
You must return to the Palace immediately. I have 
brought your crown. 

King, (putting on his crozvn). Let us lose no time. 
(He bundles up his arrozvs, to take zjuith him.) 

17 



(Enter the Cottager, hastily.) 
Cottager, (falling on his knees). Spare me! Spare 
a poor cowherd ! Oh King Alfred, spare me ! 

King. Rise, my friend. If my subjects were all as 
thoughtful as you, I could be a better King. (The Cot- 
tager rises, and n'oits, silent and awed, in the hack- 
ground.) All I have done is make a few arrows. (He 
hands his bundle to the Counsellor.) 

(Enter the Cottagers Wife, weeping.) 

Wife. Your Majesty, I am sorry that I scolded you 
about the cakes. I did n't mean to b — b — box your ears ! 
(She cries and cries.) 

King, (to the Couv.sellor). Give me my cloak. (The 
Counsellor helps him put it on.) You were right to 
scold me, Madam. I should not have let the cakes burn. 
You told me to watch them, and I was unfaithful to 
my task, (to Cottager). And you, sir, are right about 
war. War is not a good thing, but we can not stop 
lighting until we win. Always remember that a King is 
like other men ; he must do the best he can, and keep 
on hoping. You shall hear from me soon. I do not 
forget my friends. 

Chief C. Your Majesty, let us go. (They go out.) 

Wife, (wiping her eyes). He is a good King. 

Cottager, (sighing). Yes, he is a good enough King, 
but it is hard to be a King. 

Wife, (picking up an arrow). Oh, he left one of 
his arrows! I shall keep it for my little boy! Why is 
it hard to be a King? 

Cottager. Because a King is only one man. I am 
going to the barn. When supper is ready, call me. (He 
lumbers out.) 

Wife, (gathering up the cakes from the floor). Here 
he was thinking about how he could help us, and I called 
him a lazy fellow! (She zvraps the cakes up in a cloth.) 
I will keep them always. God bless our good King 
Alfred! (She goes, carrying the cakes and the arrow, 
and -wiping her eyes.) 

18 



Otb<2r BooKs by th)e Same Author. 

THE NOAHS AFLOAT. An Historical Romance. 

Cloth, 1 2mo; net, $ 1 .50; postage, 1 cents. 
"A delicious burlesque, irreverent but irresistibly funny.'' 

—The Bookseller. 



THE HEART AND THE CROWN. A volume of Son- 

nets. Full leather; printed in two colors; postpaid $1.25. 
"The work is of fine quality, with much that is beautiful and ef- 
fective."— The Gi adnata Magazine. 



TUMBLEWEED. A Book of Vagrant Verse. 

Cloth, 1 6mo; net, $ 1 .00; postage, 8 cents. 
"This beautiful poetry has the scent of the prairie grass, the rythm 
of the rolling plains."- The Eagle. 



THE OPEN ROAD. A Book of Outcast Verse. 

Cloth, l6mo; net, $1.25; postage, Scents. 
"A book of verse which rises clear lout of the realm of the or- 
dinary. "—The Wichita Beacon. 



The above books can be ordered through book stores, or of the 
author, H. Rea Woodman, Poughkeepsie, New York. 



13 1912 



